Sunday, 5 September 2021

Bird catch-up Thurs to Sat

From Ian Smith:

Bird Catch-up Thurs 2nd to Sat 4th

Thursday 2nd
The Gann held 139 Curlew, 6 Turnstone, 30 Dunlin, 25 Redshank, 3 Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper.  Up on Dale Airfield, as for Skokholm, 3 of 7 Wheatears were 'Northern'.  Wagtails split just 6 White/2 Pied.

Friday 3rd
Increases at Dale Airfield with 4 Northerns among 10 Wheatears, 5 Skylark, 6 Mipits and Wagtails split 20 White/6 Pied.  Kestrel and Sparrowhawk flying a balletic duel.
Kete potato field (being tractored to fine tilth after harvest on 1st), also showing increases with Wagtails split 27 White/12 Pied; 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Wheatear.  Gull numbers well up: 480 Herring, 13 LB-b (graellsii), 4 B-h and 1 adult Med. The hybrid Herring/LB-b was again present but the intermedius Lessers had moved on.  A few House Martins were outflown by 2 Swift's which appeared to hang around.  A Corvid flock at least 700 strong.
The Gann held 37 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 6 Juv Turnstone, both a Bar and a Black wit and 12 Meds (3×1stCY).

Saturday 4th
Notable for number of public and birders seeking Osprey views, over my 7 hours at The Gann. It fed well and used yet more different perches and some hovering was noted as first observed in 10 days since it arrived. 7 more White Wagtails yet again outnumbering 2 Pieds makes me personally comment that this is by far the best year 'ever' for their passage through UK(?).  7 Sand Martins, couple Northern Wheatears, 37 Ringed Plover, 6 Juv & 1 adult Turnstone, yesterday's Sanderling.  The max 32 count of Dunlin goes to another visiting birder who also had both the Bar and Blackwit.